A Chorus Line Teaching Resource - Thalian

2016-2017 SEASON

2016-2017 SEASON

Teacher Resource Guide

and Lesson Plan Activities

Tickets:

910-251-1788 or

CAC box office 910-341-7860

Featuring general information about our production along with some creative activities to help you make connections to your classroom curriculum before and after the show.

The production and accompanying activities address North Carolina Essential Standards in Theatre Arts, Goal A.1: Analyze literary texts & performances.

Look for this symbol for other curriculum connections.

Resource

Summary:

Page 2 Summary, About the Musical, Vocabulary

Page 3 Gypsies, Writing Prompts,

Discussion Questions

Page 4 Listening for Lines, The Setting & Characters

Page 5 True or False, Honesty, Forms of Storytelling, Discussion Questions, Comparative Art Contest

Page 6 Music, Emotions, Self-Identification Game

Page 7 Musical Theatre & Culture, Classroom Discussions,

Research Activities Page 8

Reflection, Cross the Line Activity,

Resources

Page 9 Write an Advertisement,

Write the Director

Page10 Resources

A Chorus Line

Book, Music & Lyrics by: Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

April 28th - May 7th

7:30 PM Friday - Saturday and 3:00 PM Sunday

Hannah Block Historic USO / Community Arts Center Second Street Stage 120 South 2nd Street (Corner of Orange)

About this Teaching Resource

This Teaching Resource is designed to help build new partnerships that employ theatre and the arts. A major theme that runs through A Chorus Line, is the importance of education and the influence of teachers in the performers' lives. In the 2006 Broadway production of A Chorus Line, it was stated that the cast had spent, all together, 472 years in dance training with 637 teachers! The gypsies in A Chorus Line, are judged and graded, just as students are every day. Students know what it's like to be "on the line." This study guide for A Chorus Line, explores the Pulitzer Prize winning show in an interdisciplinary curriculum that takes in English/Language Arts, History/Social Studies, Music, Theatre, and Dance. Learning about how A Chorus Line, was created will make viewing the show a richer experience for young people.

About the Musical & Its Relevance for Today

A Chorus Line began performances at the New York Shakespeare Festival during the spring of 1975, when traditional values were under tough scrutiny with Vietnam and Watergate eroding American's belief in long-cherished institutions, including the Broadway theater. A Chorus Line dealt with the present, with all its disappointments, ambiguities and possibilities. It portrayed real lives of real people, yes they were Broadway dancers but their struggles to pursue dreams at a time when opportunities seemed to be diminishing can apply to most anyone and continues to feel relevant today. After rapturous reviews and passionate word of mouth, the show was moved to the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, where it played to sold out crowds for fifteen years. The show closed on April 28, 1990, after 6,137 performances. It won nine Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The success of A Chorus Line has generated many successful productions worldwide and was revived on Broadway in 2006, and in the West End in 2013.

About Thalian Association Community Theatre

Thalian Association Community Theatre was founded in 1788, to provide arts education & bring the excitement of the performing arts to Wilmington, North Carolina & produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall. In fact, Thalian Hall was proudly named for our organization in 1858. Our mission is to present quality live theatre that illuminates the human experience for the citizens of Wilmington, New Hanover County and beyond. We teach life skills through theatre education and provide an outlet for artists and technicians to develop and exercise their crafts. Established over 35 years ago Thalian Association Youth Theatre is an extension of Thalian Association Community Theatre non-profit organization & is dedicated to the enrichment of arts education for our community's youth. We offer academy classes (in drama, voice, playwriting, story telling & theatrical makeup) that are aligned with the National Standards for Arts Education. Through generous support from: PPD, Cape Fear Rotary, Wilmington East Rotary an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation, Landfall Foundation and the Dan Cameron Family Foundation, we provide six ongoing Community Outreach Scholarship Classes to children in the Youth Enrichment Zone. We want to turn out great theatre artists as well as great doctors, lawyers, teachers and bankers. Thalian Youth Theatre is about developing collaborative & thoughtful members of our community.

Theatre Resource Guide

Thalian Association Community Theatre



SUMMARY

"Every Little Step She Takes"

The lights come up in the middle of auditions for a new 1975 Broadway show. The director of the show, Zach, and his assistant, Larry, choose 17 dancers out of dozens of hopeful performers. Zach tells them that he is looking for 8 dancers, 4 men and 4 women. He wants to find out more about them, to see if they can work together well in a group.

Many of the dancers are reluctant to speak about themselves and why they began dancing, but one by one, they begin to open up. Mike describes watching his sister's dance class and realizing that he could do that; one day he takes her place in the class and stays forever. Maggie, Sheila and Bebe talk about the beauty and escape they found at the Ballet: they all saw the Ballet as a way to make up for things they missed in real life.

We are introduced to other dancers: Kristine and Al, a married couple of dancers who support each other; Mark, a young and eager performer; Diana, who sings about how she struggled through her terrible high school acting class; and Val, who describes how, despite her extraordinary dancing, she was rejected by casting directors because of her looks.

It becomes clear that Zach and Cassie have known each other in the past. She had been a rising star on Broadway and had gone to Los Angeles to become a movie actor. During the break, Zach asks her what she is doing here, auditioning for the chorus, and Cassie tells him that she hasn't been able to find work. She wants to start again, at the beginning, in the chorus. She pleads with him to give her a chance.

Zach lets Cassie learn a new dance with the rest of the gypsies. Zach speaks to Paul alone on stage. He likes Paul's dancing, but wants the young man to open up about his past. In a wrenching monologue, Paul describes how being a dancer has changed his view of life, his family and his definition of manhood.

As the auditions come to an end, Zach must decide which of the performers in front of him will make up his chorus line.

About the Musical

When A Chorus Line, opened in 1975, audiences were shocked at its raw honesty, its look "back stage" at auditions for a Broadway show. Today, we are used to auditions, we're used to seeing people put everything "on the line" in shows like American Idol, or So You Think You Can Dance. We're used to hearing people talk about their lives, on the latest reality show or in blogs everywhere.

In 1975, director Michael Bennett, in collaboration with a group of top theatre artists and performers, brought the story of the chorus dancers to life on stage. A Chorus Line took the dancers' own words and in a powerfully simple setting ? a bare Broadway stage ? told their stories through words, song and especially, dance. It was utterly unique. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1975, and the Tony Award for Best New Musical. It changed the American musical forever.

The original musical hit the stage at a volatile time--in the wake of Vietnam and Watergate, as the hippy era declined, as movements in civil rights, women's rights, and gay rights were gaining voices across the world, and as the Cold War continued without end in sight. A Chorus Line, injected into this fractured landscape a saga of the under appreciated, the overlooked--the everyday individual who struggled in pursuit of fulfillment. This story, displayed with all the musical and visual poetry the best talents in the world had to offer, sparked a renewed interest in theater, new trends in fashion, and new inspiration for storytelling.

Vocabulary Enrichment

Research & Write the definitions for the highlighted words above.

N.C. Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy L1.4a: Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Page 2

Theatre Resource Guide

Thalian Association Community Theatre



"Give me somebody to dance for. Give me somebody to show. Let me wake up in the morning to find I have somewhere exciting to go!"

The actors who star in A Chorus Line ? and the characters they play ? are members of a special group of professionals: the Broadway musical theatre performer. Through pain, injury, rejection and doubt, they are expected to shine on stage eight shows a week. Which they do, without complaint. For years, dancers in the chorus, (the "gypsies" who moved from show to show) were the unsung heroes of Broadway. They did what they did for the chance to perform in front of an audience.

What's vitally different about A Chorus Line, and why it remains an important show for young people to experience, is that the performers are auditioning, not to be famous or to spread the word about themselves. They're simply looking for a job. Do these gypsy dancers hope for fame? Someday sure, but right now, they're dancing & working, simply for love. They just wanted a chance.

Discussion Questions:

What do you love? What do you want to be or do when you are an adult? How will you make a living and support yourself and your family? Would you do something for no or very little pay, just to be able to do what you love?

Writing Prompts

Using the words below, write a story about "the future you". What will you be doing? Where will you be living? Who will you be living with? What are your weekly activities? Who will you be supporting? How will you be enjoying life? How will you be using your gift?

SACRIFICE PERSEVERANCE SUPPORT HOPE UNDERSTANDING FINANCES AWAKING LOVE

Page 3

N.C. Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy SL.2: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media. L1.4a: Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. W.5.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details and clear event sequences.

Theatre Resource Guide

Thalian Association Community Theatre



Listening for Lines

When you attend A Chorus Line, listen for these lines and for how they are delivered & observe what that tells you about how the characters feel.

"OsqoehSuuneAetydveenienuazdnphettIehafl-eewucnraofinosymwnklleiaaanmoalsgsfrde.sfattrIuoosincnniniilclae.e'"ittnltthstg.peph-IaBaabCappatulaemenssrsrodinsomb-siesAequtseiutdstgehIoa-eiltnnotzhgdtsion?atIgt?

"Then I went out for...CHEERLEADER! And they told me: "No dice, you'll get lost on the

football field.The pom-poms are bigger than you." - Connie

"Sheciloam, dboinyaotuioknn?"ow the - Zach

"I

knew

it

when I was - Sheila

in

the

front..."

"ONE LITTLE Stinky for

FART!...And they called three years!." - Mike

me

"I think it would be better if I knew something about you - about your personalities, so I am going to ask you some questions. I want to

hear you talk." - Zack

The Setting:

1975 Broadway Theatre

The Characters:

Zach -The director of the musical Larry - Zach's assistant

When performers come to an audition, they're only names to

a director; he doesn't know anything about them. Zach spends the audition learning about each of the performers in front of him. The same for an audience; we learn about the characters during the course of

the show.

After seeing A Chorus Line, write a one sentence description for each of the characters. As a class, discuss how they are similar and how they

are different?

Greg Cassie Sheila Bobby Diana Bebe Judy Richie Al Kristine Val Mark Paul Don Mike Maggie Connie

Characters On the Line:

______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

Page 4

N.C. Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy R.L.1.2: Retell stories, including key details, & demonstrate understanding of their central message and lesson. SL.2: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media. Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy RL.pare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories. NC Essential Standards Health Education 2.MEH.1.3: Explain the influence of peers, the media, and the family on feelings and emotions.

TPhageea3tre Resource Guide

Thalian Association Community Theatre



True or False

? A Chorus Line played on Broadway, for 6,137 performances over 16 years. ? It won nineteen Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize.

The Art of Storytelling

? Isn't all art a form of storytelling? Discuss how painting, sculpture or photography are forms of storytelling.

? A Chorus Line, began with perhaps the oldest form of theatre: storytelling. Dancers gathered together in the middle of the night and told stories ? about dance, work and why it all matters so much. The creation of A Chorus Line, is a fascinating story of trust and risk and using storytelling to find common ground.

? In his book A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett, Ken Mandelbaum writes that "the dancer is of necessity a creature of honesty." What does he mean? What about being a dancer makes you honest? What premium do we place on honesty today? Do you consider yourself an honest person? Is it important to be honest? Why or why not?

? Describing the finale of A Chorus Line, Zach says to the dancers, "Now ? this is important! I want to see Unison Dancing. Every head, arm, body angle, exactly the same. You must blend. This is one of those numbers where you back the star ? you're her frame. I don't want anybody to pull my eye." After you see A Chorus Line, discuss the ending. Is it a happy ending or a sad ending?

Tell Your Story

Tell your own stories. Start out by gathering in a circle and, one by one, telling one thing about yourself. Then open it up to anyone who wishes to go into further detail. Don't know what to talk about? Brainstorm on these ideas:

? Talk about your family. Describe your relationship with your parents or guardians, and your siblings. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Are you an only child? Relate one event that exemplifies your family life. ? What's your favorite subject in school? Least favorite? Why? ? Who are some of your heroes? Who is someone you admire, and why? ? Do stories in the news scare you? Disgust you? Inspire you? Why? ? What are your dreams for the future? Where you think you will be in the next 10 years? Tape record the stories. Notice what you have in common with your peers. How do your stories compare with the stories in A Chorus Line?

Comparative Art

Based on the themes of A Chorus Line, or your own internal conflicts & conflicts with others, use recycled materials create an art piece that conveys your message about how it makes you feel. (Ideas: draw, paint, write a poem or a song, choreograph a dance with props or create beat) Make your own creative art masterpiece, using recycled materials such as: cardboard, paper, old socks, trash can lids, drums, broom handles, etc.

Enter your masterpiece in our art contest (details on last page) & you could win: two free tickets to our special preview night of A Chorus Line, 7:00 PM Thursday April 27th and one free theatre arts class for your entire classroom!

Page 5

NC Essential Standards Health Education 2.MEH.1.4: Explain the influence on self-concept on performance and vice versa. North Carolina Essential Standards, Information and Technology Standards 2.TT.1.1: Use a variety of technology tools to gather data and information. Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy: W.5.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details and clear event sequences. North Carolina Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy: R.L.1.2: Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message and lesson. RL.9-10.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges & is shaped & refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text. National Standards for Arts Education Visual Arts 3.V.1.2. Understand that artists use their art to express personal ideas.

Theatre Resource Guide

Thalian Association Community Theatre



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